Leica X1 Comparison Review

The Leica X1 is a fixed lens compact camera that was officially introduced in September 2009 and is equipped with an APS-C sensor. It offers a resolution of 12.2 megapixel.

The Leica X1 has a Camera Elo of 1388. This rating puts the X1 below average of all prime lens compact cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (APS cameras), the X1 also falls below average. – Well, the Leica X1 is more than 9 years old, and there have been many other good digital
cameras released since 2009.

Headline Specifications

Leica X1

Fixed lens compact camera

36mm f/2.8

12.2 MP, APS-C Sensor

no Video

ISO 100-3200

No viewfinder, LCD framing

2.7" LCD, 230k dots

Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)

3 shutter flaps per second

260 shots per battery charge

124 x 60 x 32 mm, 306 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers,
and how it compares to other digital cameras.

Body comparison with a credit card

An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Leica X1 vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Leica X1 alongside
a set of comparators. If you want to review a
camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table.
Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and
choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Leica X1 was launched in the US market at a price of $1,995.
Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available.
Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting
and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be
found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

The Leica X1 features an APS-C sensor and has a format factor
(sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Leica X1 among the medium-sized sensor cameras
that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.

For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Leica X1

APS-C

12.2

4272

2856

-

-

-

-

-

Leica X1

Canon G16«»

1/1.7

12.0

4000

3000

1080/60p

21.0

11.7

230

54

Canon G16

Fujifilm X100«»

APS-C

12.2

4288

2848

720/30p

22.9

12.4

1001

73

Fujifilm X100

Leica X Typ 113«»

APS-C

16.1

4928

3264

1080/30p

-

-

-

-

Leica X Typ 113

Leica D-LUX 6«»

1/1.7

10.0

3648

2736

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Leica D-LUX 6

Leica X2«»

APS-C

16.1

4928

3264

-

-

-

-

-

Leica X2

Leica D-LUX 5«»

1/1.7

10.0

3648

2736

720/60p

-

-

-

-

Leica D-LUX 5

Leica V-LUX 2«»

1/2.3

14.0

4320

3240

1080/60i

-

-

-

-

Leica V-LUX 2

Panasonic LX5«»

1/1.7

10.0

3648

2736

720/60p

19.6

10.8

132

41

Panasonic LX5

Sony NEX-3«»

APS-C

14.0

4592

3056

720/30p

22.1

12.0

830

68

Sony NEX-3

Sony NEX-5«»

APS-C

14.0

4592

3056

1080/60i

22.2

12.2

796

69

Sony NEX-5

It should be noted that unlike many modern cameras, the X1 does not provide the possibility to capture videos.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The adjacent tables list some of the other core features of the Leica X1 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Shutter speed (1/sec)

Shutter flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Leica X1

-

n

2.7

230

fixed

n

2000

3.0

Y

n

Leica X1

Canon G16«»

optical

n

3.0

922

fixed

n

4000

2.2

Y

Y

Canon G16

Fujifilm X100«»

1440

n

2.8

460

fixed

n

4000

5.0

Y

n

Fujifilm X100

Leica X Typ 113«»

-

n

3.0

920

fixed

n

2000

5.0

Y

n

Leica X Typ 113

Leica D-LUX 6«»

-

n

3.0

920

fixed

n

4000

11.0

Y

Y

Leica D-LUX 6

Leica X2«»

-

n

2.7

230

fixed

n

2000

5.0

Y

n

Leica X2

Leica D-LUX 5«»

-

n

3.0

460

fixed

n

4000

2.5

Y

Y

Leica D-LUX 5

Leica V-LUX 2«»

202

n

3.0

460

swivel

n

2000

11.0

Y

Y

Leica V-LUX 2

Panasonic LX5«»

-

n

3.0

460

fixed

n

4000

2.5

Y

Y

Panasonic LX5

Sony NEX-3«»

-

n

3.0

920

tilting

n

4000

7.0

n

n

Sony NEX-3

Sony NEX-5«»

-

n

3.0

920

tilting

n

4000

7.0

n

n

Sony NEX-5

One convenient feature of the X1 is the presence of an on-board flash.
While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Leica X1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Leica X1

Y

-

-

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Leica X1

Canon G16«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

-

Canon G16

Fujifilm X100«»

Y

stereo

-

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Fujifilm X100

Leica X Typ 113«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Leica X Typ 113

Leica D-LUX 6«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Leica D-LUX 6

Leica X2«»

Y

-

-

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Leica X2

Leica D-LUX 5«»

Y

mono

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Leica D-LUX 5

Leica V-LUX 2«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Leica V-LUX 2

Panasonic LX5«»

Y

mono

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Panasonic LX5

Sony NEX-3«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Sony NEX-3

Sony NEX-5«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Sony NEX-5

The X1 has a prime lens built in
(24mm f/2.8), which, in full frame equivalent terms, provides a focal length of 36mm. The camera is, hence, ready to shoot,
while remaining more compact in size than an interchangeable lens camera with an optic of similar focal length and aperture specifications.

Expert reviews

While the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the X1 handle or perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is where reviews by experts come in. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). The full reviews are available by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Leica X1 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers
concerning some particular features of the X1.

What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the X1?

The camera features a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the X1?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200.

Does the Leica X1 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

The camera gets its power from the BP-DC8 (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Camera to camera comparisons

In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities with other camera models, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.